Mammary Cell News Volume 4.22 | Jun 7 2012

LABORATORY RESEARCH

A Dominant-Negative N-Terminal Fragment of HER2 Frequently Expressed in Breast Cancers
Although anti-HER2 therapies are remarkably effective, HER2-positive tumors are heterogeneous and some subtypes do not respond or develop resistance to these therapies. In this study, researchers showed that H2NTF, a novel N-terminal fragment of HER2, is expressed at variable levels in 60% of the breast cancer samples analyzed. [Oncogene] Abstract

Small-Animal PET of Steroid Hormone Receptors Predicts Tumor Response to Endocrine Therapy Using a Preclinical Model of Breast Cancer
Researchers used estrogen- and progestin-based radiopharmaceuticals to image estrogen receptor a and progesterone receptor in mouse mammary tumors at baseline and after hormonal therapy and to determine whether changes in these imaging biomarkers can serve as an early predictive indicator of therapeutic response. [J Nucl Med] Abstract

NT5E CpG Island Methylation Is a Favorable Breast Cancer Biomarker
Investigators used RT-PCR, qPCR, methylation-specific PCR and pyrosequencing to analyze 5′-nucleotidase, ecto (NT5E) in breast carcinoma cell lines and primary and breast carcinomas. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

CXCR4 Activation Maintains a Stem Cell Population in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells through AhR Signaling
To investigate signaling mechanisms important for the maintenance and viability of drug-resistant cancer progenitors, researchers used microarray analysis, PCR array for genes involved in cancer drug resistance and metabolism, flow cytometry, soft agar colony formation assay, in vivo tumorigenicity assay and immunohistochemical analysis using tamoxifen-sensitive and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer MCF7 cells. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Non-Stimulated, Agonist-Stimulated and Store-Operated Ca²⁺ Influx in MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cells and the Effect of EGF-Induced EMT on Calcium Entry
Researchers showed that EGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells is associated with a reduction in agonist-stimulated and store-operated Ca²⁺ influx, and that MDA-MB-468 cells prior to EMT induction have a high level of non-stimulated Ca²⁺ influx. [PLoS One]
Full Article

8q24 Cancer Risk Allele Associated with Major Metastatic Risk in Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Researchers investigated two 8q24 breast and colon cancer risk alleles in the close vicinity of the MYC gene for their role in the occurrence of distant metastases. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mammary Adipose Tissue Stimulate Progression of Breast Cancer Resembling the Basal-Type
The aim of this study was to better understand how breast adipose MSCs (bMSCs) contribute to the progression of basal-like breast cancers by relying on isogenic HMT-3255 S3 (pre-invasive) and T4-2 (invasive) human cells that upon transplantation into nude mice resemble this tumor subtype. In vitro results suggested that bMSCs may contribute to breast cancer progression in multiple ways. [Cancer Biol Ther] Abstract

FoxM1 Regulates Mammary Luminal Cell Fate
This study identifies FoxM1 as a critical regulator of mammary differentiation with significant implications for the development of aggressive breast cancers. [Cell Rep] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

External Beam Accelerated Partial-Breast Irradiation Using 32 Gy in Eight Twice-Daily Fractions: Five-Year Results of a Prospective Study
External beam accelerated partial breast irradiation is an increasingly popular technique for treatment of patients with early stage breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery. Researchers present five-year results of a prospective trial. [Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys] Abstract

BRCA2 Mutations and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Researchers screened a group of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients (n = 30) of white European descent for mutations in BRCA2 as well as in BRCA1. Although the study group was small, these results point to BRCA2 mutations being important in TNBC. [PLoS One] Full Article

Short Course Radiotherapy with Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Stage I-II Breast Cancer, Early Toxicities of a Randomized Clinical Trial
TomoBreast, a unicenter, non-blinded randomized trial comparing conventional radiotherapy vs. hypofractionated Tomotherapy for post-operative treatment of breast cancer, revealed that short course radiotherapy of the breast with simultaneous integrated boost over three weeks is feasible without excess toxicities. [Radiat Oncol] Abstract

Genentech’s Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1) Showed Positive Phase III Results in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
Genentech announced topline results of EMILIA, the first randomized Phase III study of T-DM1. The study enrolled people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had previously received treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and a taxane chemotherapy. [Genentech, Inc.] Press Release

Generex Announces Scheduling of USFDA End-of-Phase II Meeting for the AE37 Breast Cancer Vaccine
Generex Biotechnology Corporation announced that an End-of-Phase II meeting has been scheduled with the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in respect of the Phase II clinical trial of the AE37 breast cancer vaccine being undertaken by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Antigen Express, Inc. [Generex Biotechnology Corporation] Press Release

First Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Minimally Invasive IceSense3 Cryoablation Procedure
IceCure Medical Ltd. announced the first four breast cancer patients treated with the IceSense3™ Cryoablation Procedure in Japan. These patients were the first four enrolled in a clinical trial of 30 small, early stage breast cancer patients at Kameda Medical Center. [IceCure Medical Ltd.] Press Release

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Research Associate – Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Contract Assay Services (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Epithelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Business Analyst – Product Management (STEMSOFT Software Inc.)

Postdoc Positions – Molecular Cancer Biology (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer Research (Beckman Research Institute)

Research Fellowship – Transformed Signal Transduction Networks in Breast Cancer (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

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